A second Brockton family has accused Mayor Moises Rodrigues of inappropriate behavior toward their daughter. Two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Brockton Public Schools had been made aware of the complaint.
This follows another, very public allegation of wrongdoing by a distraught mother at Brockton’s high school graduation on June 6. The mother interrupted the ceremony while Rodrigues was speaking, yelling, “You have to [expletive] get out of here. You know what you did to my daughter. You know what you did to my daughter. You have to [expletive] get out of here.”
Asked about the outburst, Rodrigues did not respond to GBH News, but told the Brockton Enterprise that a graduating senior had accused him of interacting with her inappropriately at a Brockton parade on May 22. Brockton Public Schools had told Rodrigues before the ceremony not to attend graduation to avoid making contact with his accuser. The mayor was later served with a temporary harassment prevention order against the minor.
The second allegation was described in a letter that was sent by the second girl’s father and viewed by GBH News. The letter was dated June 1, but a source tells GBH News it was sent this week to James LaBillois, Brockton Public Schools’ assistant superintendent for unified services and the district’s equity, civil rights and harassment, and sexual harassment officer.
The letter reads: “Following a recent school event on May 15th hosted by Brockton High’s Youth Health Advisory Council, our child shared an experience that left them feeling uncomfortable. As parents, we believe it is important to take those feelings seriously and to advocate for our children when they ask to be heard.”
GBH News is not identifying the complainants in the two cases because they are minors.
The second girl is shown in a photo of that May 15 event that has been widely shared on local social media, GBH News confirmed. Rodrigues is photographed as part of a large group, standing behind a girl. He is holding her left arm just above the elbow with one hand and her right midriff with the other.
Rodrigues previously discussed the photo with the Brockton Enterprise, saying: “Coming from the child protection world that I came from, one of the things that we always tell people is that if you’re standing behind a young person, you always grab them by the arm to make sure that there’s distance between you. So if you see my hand grabbing somebody’s arm, it usually is to maintain distance.”
Rodrigues previously worked as a child protection specialist for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
One of the child’s parents met with LaBillois to discuss the alleged May 15 incident, according to a meeting summary written by LaBillois and obtained by GBH News. That summary describes Rodrigues allegedly standing close to the girl, commenting on her appearance, and touching her, leaving her feeling distressed.
GBH News has not been able to directly speak with the second accuser’s family.
In response to an inquiry from GBH News, Sydné Marrow, Rodrigues’s chief of staff, said: “To my knowledge, there is no second allegation.” Brockton Public Schools declined a request for comment.
After the first minor’s family made their complaint, state police with the Plymouth county district attorney’s office, as well as a third-party investigator hired by the Brockton Public Schools, are investigating Rodrigues.
Rodrigues and his first accuser are due in court next week for a hearing on whether the temporary harassment prevention order will be renewed.
